The Benefits of Politeness

Humans are born with a brain that helps develop various means of communication. We are the only species of living things who can talk and exchange thoughts and ideas in the most effective manner. Hence effective communication is the key to relationship building, and polite mannerisms the key to effective communication.
In today’s modern world, there are prices for being rude. This is considered a very important way to be by a percentage of the younger generation which is a pity.

It is the first step of better cooperation to win battle.

Being polite reflects the personality that we are. It makes us look bigger, larger and more powerful than we are. Politeness is a virtue which far surpasses any other people management technique.
Politeness at workplace plays a very important role in making us more acceptable, more respectable and creating a better professional image.
Politeness at workplace plays a very important role in making us more acceptable, more respectable and creating a better professional image.
Let me tell you a story of a man whose life got saved simply by greeting the security guard who stood at the entrance of his office. One day that man had a sudden heart attack at his desk, but nobody noticed. Everyone left but the security guard came looking for him and found him in utter pain. He immediately arranged for medical care. His life was saved. When the man recovered, he asked the security guard, “How did you realize I was behind?”
The guard smiled and replied, “You did not come to wave me good bye. You always greeted me in the morning and before leaving the office.”
Well, if this could be the impact a simple greeting, then can you fathom the powers of very polite behavior and gesture being practiced daily at our workplace?
So, let’s see how we could leverage our polite conduct as an added advantage to our managerial qualities. We list down the benefits of being polite at workplace…

Politeness makes us approachable and easier to talk

Politeness at workplace makes up approachable. It will help us mobilize the synergies between various people in a team or across the teams.
Similarly, when others feel we could be open enough for opinions and discussions, we could develop a very good personnel ecosystem. There would be a free exchange of ideas that would enrich us professionally as well as personally.

Speaking politely keeps arguments at the bay

Speaking politely helps to avoid arguments. When there will be no discourteousness, there will only be discussions not altercations. This will lead to our positive self-image as well as excellent brand positioning.

Politeness projects our high EQ

Being polite reflects our control on our self. It also manifests our ability to maintain composure at all situations. This speaks volumes of our emotional quotient and projects us as people with very high levels of restraint and accord.

Job success is directly proportional to politeness

The ability to generate a good work force, motivate people to achieve targets are all the hidden in a chest, the key to which is politeness.

Polite people can regulate people actions and deliverables by their mere conduct which gives them better results personally and as a team.

Employees and colleagues willingly heed to the instructions given politely which facilitate getting the work done more easily. Simply put, adding words like, “please”, “kindly”, “would you mind” to any sentence or instruction makes it much polite than those without. People listen you with due respect.

Being polite makes us very adaptive in a new environment

Being polite makes us more adaptive as we are welcomed more easily in a new environment. People find it easier to make space for pleasant people and are always willing to help them blend into the new environment.

This is how politeness creates the magic. You can adapt and settle down quickly in your new office and you attract people to yourself.

Politeness infuses positivity in workplace

Being pleasant is a very important attribute to projecting ourselves impressively. It helps in creating a very positive aura around us that would go a long way in dynamic work environment.

Politeness can make you a leader

Politeness is one of the most important attributes that a good manager/boss must possess and develop it further always. Just like compassion, politeness is one of those must-have qualities of a good leader. It helps in the transition from some personnel to a manager very easily and then from team managers to mentors and leaders.

A Great “Cost to Benefit” Ratio

Finally, in these turbulent economic times most would argue that unnecessary strife and misunderstandings waste precious time and contribute added stress to our already high stress lives. Being polite, showing care and consideration towards others costs nothing, but the returns can be tremendous.

Remember: Being polite DOESN’T mean saying YES to everything

Being polite does not mean saying yes to everything. We must never over-commit or accept things beyond the realm of our deliverables.

That we are assertive is the key – courteous but assertive. Where not possible or not required for us to do anything, we must politely refuse. We could say, “Sorry, right now am too packed to be able to deliver what you are asking me to” or “I am sorry, but I will definitely get back”. These are subtle ways to refuse.

The whole summation is that we could be polite yet maintain our own stance at all points in time.

Your behavior is one of the reasons behind your professional as well as personal success. So, do not undermine the powers of being polite. Practice it daily.